Single, white female, looking for love, but this time, not in all the wrong places. Originally skeptical about this Internet dating thing, but I’m hoping for someone who can change my mind. Tell me about yourself, other than your sign and your salary. Honesty is the best policy. Please include only recent pictures. And please - no creeps.

While this online dating profile may mimic your sentiments, it won’t score you any dates. Find out how to maximize your chances at love in cyber space with these award-winning profile tips. Plus: Do you make a good first impression?

Finding your lawfully-wedded husband in the bar scene just may not cut it anymore. You may have also run out of friends who have friends to set you up with. Internet dating is a convenient way to date and you have thousands of eligible men to consider, increasing your chances of finding love in and out of cyber space.

Internet dating may not be as romantic as say, locking eyes with your future soulmate across a crowded room. It’s also not as natural or personal. That is why creating an enticing profile is essential to a good Internet dating experience. You can only go by words, not body language of physical chemistry.

Peruse as many dating sites as you can before choosing the right one for your needs, including rules, services provided and membership fees. Ask for recommendations from friends or take a free test run if you can’t decide. Once you’ve found the right site, it’s time to embark on your Internet dating adventure with a tip-top profile to get you started.

Tips for writing an online dating profile

Personal profiles are your selling points, the first impression in the Internet dating world. The key to making a personal profile pop right off the screen isn’t necessarily to be the most accomplished, active or hottest woman. It’s to give potential daters some honest bait.

Do’s

Create an interesting screen name. Avoid a bland, desperate or cheesy one, like “Lookingforlove2006.” And don’t use your entire name or a series of long, annoying numbers.

Include a photograph of yourself. You’ll get a 50% increase in responses. But don’t include a photo unless it’s current, because no man cares that you were in your prime in your 20s when you’re 50.

Be honest: What’s the point of lying on your personal profile if you’re really trying to find a working relationship? Highlight your positive attributes without over-inflating them. Remember the old saying, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.” If lying gets you on a first face-to-face date, it’ll probably not get you a second date.

Avoid laundry list of adjectives. Smart, funny and successful don’t do you justice. And who doesn’t enjoy the movies or the beach? Find a way to make those adjectives and activities come alive. Use an anecdote to show your quirks or unique perspectives. Instead of saying that you love Italian food, briefly tell about the dinner in Italy that changed your opinion of it. Or mention why your favorite movie is your favorite. Pay attention to every sentence so you don’t waste space with non-informative and dry descriptions.

Nix the negativity: “I’m a little embarrassed to be dating online, but what the heck” can belittle your potential daters. Also, if you’re bitter at the whole dating thing because of an ex-boyfriend who burned you, give it some time before logging on.

Spell check: Highlighting how intelligent you with “inteligent” doesn’t make a good first impression. Write out your profile in Word, use the spell check feature and cut and paste it into the site.

State what you you’re looking for, whether it’s someone who shares your love of the opera or a marriage partner. Being upfront from the get-go will eliminate the possibility of a misunderstanding later on.

Aren’t creative? Enlist a dating service where professionals can help write an intriguing profile.

Don’ts

Brag: There’s nothing worse than a man who defines himself by a high salary or who implies that’s he’s too good-looking for any average Jane. Same goes for you. Modesty is much more attractive.

Discount your intuition: Internet dating is an ideal place for deception and it’s easy to get carried away. You may divulge really personal info right off the bat because you feel anonymously safe, and there are no visual warning signs that may otherwise put up a red flag. Never give out your phone number or address to someone until you have met him. For the first few dates, meet each other in a public place.

Be unrealistic: You’ve found a guy you think you’d really click with, so you drop him an E-mail. A week later, and you still haven’t heard from him. You have to be prepared for some disappointment. And don’t put your eggs all in one “online” basket. Don’t spend every free moment online either. You’ll find someone when the time’s right, plus, you’ll be much more interesting if you have a great social life outside of chat rooms.

Take a minute to rewrite your online dating profile with the help of these tips, and see if it’s the difference between an empty inbox and a weekend packed with dates. Good luck in your cyber search for love!

Do You Make a Good First Impression?

Dating is all about first impressions, and as the old saying goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover...but people do it all the time! Sure, it’s unfair, but first impressions can haunt you forever. Like it or not, your attitude, appearance and overall demeanor say a lot about you. What is yours saying? Take this first impression quiz.